Game apparatus



July 8, 1958 M. H.- WILLIAMS GAME APPARATUS Filed Nov. 2, 1956 n .F. 3+. 6 21. Pm I d A m, A 7

' INVENTOR.

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ATTOIeNEYS' United States Patent GAME APPARATUS Myron H. Williams, Hayward, Wis.

Application November 2, 1956, Serial No. 619,972 1 Claim. or. 273-143 The present invention relates to a game apparatus of the type in which the playing thereof is controlled by chances, such as encountered in the playing of dice, or other well known games of chance.

An object of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus which lends itself to the playing of games of chance, one which is simple in structure and readily manufactured in quantity of plastic or other lightweight materials, one which is neat and attractive in appearance, and one which is highly effective in action.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure l is a sectional view in elevation of the game apparatus of the present invention taken on the line 11 of Figure 2,

Figure 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure '4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the present invention,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a further modification, and

Figure 8 is a schematic representation of other indicia which may be used with the game apparatus of the present invention.

Referring in greater detail to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the game apparatus of the present invention comprises a base 10 having a pair of walls 11 and 12 arranged inparallel spaced relation rising from the base 10 adjacent opposite sides of the base 10. The walls 11 and 12 are con nected together by end walls 13 and 14 and form with the base 10 an open top receptacle.

Within the receptacle formed by the walls 11 to 14 inclusive, are a plurality of support members 15 arranged in spaced relation and each member 15 positioned transversely of and between the walls 11 and 12 and slidable in a groove in the adjacent wall 11 or 12 between upward and downward positions.

A game piece 16 is positioned between the legs of each of the support members 15, so that a portion of its periphery is above the upper ends of the walls 11 and 12 when the support member 15 is at the limit of its upward movement position and is below the upper ends of the walls 11 and 12 when the support member is in its downward position. Each game piece 16 is fabricated so as to be hollow with a shaft extending transversely therethrough, the shaft being indicated by the reference numeral 17 with a cap 18 closing the game piece and forming a support for one end of the shaft. The shaft 17 is supported by a pair of pointed trunnion pins 19 which are threadedly engaged in holes provided in the upper end portions of the legs of the U-shaped member 15. Each game piece 16 is rotatably supported by its shaft 17 for rotational movement about the shaft 17 as a horizontal axis which lies transverse to the walls 11 and 12. The trunnion pins 19 also connect the game piece 16 to its support member 15 for upward and downward movement with the latter.

The trunnion pins 19 are needle sharp, and the shafts 17, which are formed integrally with or secured by glue, or other means, to the respective game pieces 16, rotate freely on the trunnions 19.

The periphery of each game piece 16 is provided with a series of fiat indicia bearing faces, the indicia being such suitable gaming indicia as desired, an arrangement of dots as shown in Figures 2, 4 and 6, or numerals or designs, as shown in Figure 8.

Means is provided for effecting the upward and down ward movement of the U-shaped members 15. Specifically, this means consists in a transversely arranged bar 21 slidably mounted upon the base 10 for limited lateral movement through holes provided in the walls 11 and 12, as shown most clearly in Figures 3 and 4. A bar 21 extends below each U-shaped support member 15 and has a cam surface intermediate its ends, as indicated by the reference numeral 22, by means of which the U- shaped member 15 is raised or lowered. It will be seen that the bar 21 has a pair of notches at difierent levels, the higher notch being indicated by the reference nu meral 23, and the lower notch by the reference numeral 24. The notches 23 and 24 alternatingly engage the point on the lower face of the U-shaped support member 15, the point being indicated in Figure 3 by the reference numeral 25. Figure 3 shows the U-shaped member at the limit of its upward movement, and Figure 4 shows it at the limit of its lower movement with the point 25 received in the notches 23 and 24 respectively.

Means is provided for engaging each of the game pieces 16 when their respective supporting members are in the downward position for preventing the rotation of the game piece 16. Specifically, this means embodies, in the first form of the invention, a square post 26 rising from the base 10 intermediate the adjacent bars 21 and so positioned that one of its slanting upper end faces abuts and bears against the adjacent face of a game piece 16 when the latter is in its lower position. In Figure 7 a modified form is shown in which the post 26 is cylindrical in form and indicated by the reference numeral 27. In this embodiment, the walls are indicated by the reference numerals 11 and 12' and the bars by the reference numeral 21.

In Figure 6, a modification is shown in which a pair of springs 28 are arranged over the upper ends of the legs of each U-shaped support member 15'. The springs 28 urge the U-shaped member 15' and the game piece 16 to a downward position.

In Figure 8, two game pieces 16" and 16" are shown, illustrating how the periphery may bear such indicia as desired for the particular game in which the apparatus of the present invention is to be used.

In use, the player may stroke the plurality of game pieces 16 when they are in their upward positions, causing each game piece 16 to rotate independently of the others, and to come to rest with one of its indicia bearing faces uppermost. Means is provided for maintaining each game piece 16 with any one face uppermost, this means embodying a Weighted ball 29 which is receivable in one of the depressions 31 on the inner wall of the game piece 16, it being obvious that the depression 31 is opposite the face in each instance.

The player may raise and lower each game piece at will for the purpose of following the rules of the particular game, or may lower all of the game pieces byshifting laterally the respective bars 21, as desired.

ends of said walls when-each of said members is '-in"its .upper position-and below said ends of said walls when each of said members is in its downward position said game. pieces being connected to the legs of-the adjacent support member forupward' 'and downward movement .10 bers so that a portion of its periphery isabove-thei'upper therewith and for free rotation about a horizontal axis transverse to said Walls, means carried by said base and operable to effect the movement of each of said members, and means carried on said base and operable to engage each of said game pieces when the adjacent support member is in the downward position to prevent rotation of said game piece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 630,659 Hurd June 9, 1903 866,004 Deal Sept. 17, 1907 1,961,973 Jenkins June 5, 1934 

